Rainbow was the color of the day as hundreds of county residents turned out for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Diversity and Pride Festival in Ventura on Saturday.

Attendees at the ninth annual event wore leis and feather boas in rainbow colors as 20-foot long garlands of balloon rainbows floated above Mission Park in downtown Ventura.

The festival was sponsored by the Ventura County Rainbow Alliance, an organization that serves the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community.

"It's a day to put us on the map in Ventura County," said Jay Smith, Rainbow Alliance's executive director.

Smith said that the Ventura festival is different from some other gay pride events in that it is family-oriented.

"Our vendors have strict guidelines on what they can display and what wording can be used, not because we want to squelch diversity but because we want families to feel welcome, and we know what Ventura County is ready for," said Smith.

While a few vendors had gay-themed T-shirts or jewelry, most of the 60 booths looked like any found at other festivals, filled with bargain sunglasses, time-shared unit sales representatives and representatives from social service agencies.

The Rev. Brian Elster of the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Oxnard said that some people were glad to see his church's booth, but others took a wide path around him.

"We're here to say, No, we don't hate you,'" said Elster, 53. "We're not here to make converts or to try and change anyone's beliefs. We're here because we're part of the community."

Jake Pratt, 26, of Fillmore, was volunteering at the festival, putting his physical comfort aside for a cause.

The thin, heavily tattooed young man sat damp and shivering on the seat of a large blue dunk tank, waiting for his next plunge into the water below him.

"It is freezing, and it doesn't get any better," said Pratt. "I got water up my nose twice."

Pratt was getting dunked — three throws for $5 — for a newly formed nonprofit group called COLOR, Community Organized for Liberty, Opportunity and Respect.

The group started as a dinner group, a social gathering, but the members decided they wanted to do more, said founding member John Wilner.

"One thing we really believe is that we need to help the community at large in order to help ourselves," said Wilner, 30, of Ventura.

Wilner said the group has raised money for the Ventura County AIDS Walk and plans to work on issues surrounding gays in the military and gay marriage as well as doing other charitable work.

Carly Foster, 33, of Simi Valley, said she and her dog, Pepper, an 11-year old Welsh Corgi, were enjoying the festival.

"I'm seeing people I hadn't seen in a long time," said Foster. "The community gets together, and you get to see old friends."